SPRING 2021 Some Paths Lead Back Home A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS OF ST. URSULA ACADEMY Some Paths Lead Back Home During high school, girls often dream of life after graduation. For some, it means looking forward to campus life. For others, it means landing a fantastic job so she can buy a car and be independent. For others, it means getting out of her hometown to explore the world, with nothing holding her back. Wherever her dreams take her, she has a path for the next few years. And, after a few years—sometimes more than a few—a path that once led away from home often becomes a road beckoning one back, lit with wonderful memories of happy times. SUA has lit a path home for many alumnae over the years. Our grads fondly remember their days in these halls, and, although their roles change when they return, they want to rekindle those feelings. We at SUA are grateful that the grads featured in our cover story found their path back home, as we are better—and brighter—for it. 2 CONTENTS SPRING 2021 4 A Letter from the President 5 A Letter from the Principal 6 A Letter from the Board Chair 7 SUA Board of Trustees Welcomes Four New Members 8 COVER STORY: Some Paths Lead Back Home ACADEMICS 14 Forensic Science Course New to SUA 16 Faculty Members Spend Summer Helping Future Arrows ACTIVE ARROWS 19 The Pandemic Can’t Stop SUA Students with a Cause 21 The Merici Society Brings Christmas Cheer 22 Her Love of the Water Led to a Love of Water President 23 More Clubs Added to the Junior Academy Mary Conlisk Werner ’74 P ’01, ’03, ’05 ARTS Principal 24 The Art of Musical Theater Class Flourishes Nichole Operacz Flores ’89 P ’15, ’21 25 Tiny Door Project Brings Joy to Community EDITOR Jane Pfeifer ATHLETICS 26 LAYOUT AND DESIGN Kelsey Hills-Finucan ’04 Enters BW Athletic Hall of Fame Tess Segura 27 Athletic Signings CONTRIBUTORS ARROWS IN FAITH Yolanda Robinson Durden ’86 P ’14 28 Alumnae Engagement Coordinator SUA Remembers Sr. Kathleen Padden 29 Arrows Get Creative with Service Projects Rita Hayes P ’26, ’28 Director of Admissions and Marketing 30 The Toledo Labre Project Perseveres through the Pandemic Michelle Moses P ’22, ’24 31 One Ursuline Ministry Closes; Other Opportunities Expand Special Events and Advancement Services Manager Emily Otto Annual Fund Coordinator ADMISSIONS Josh Yecke 32 Class of 2025 by the Numbers Director of Advancement ALUMNAE Special thanks 33 Alumna Profile: Maryann O’Conor ’72 Avery Kamm ’25, Cora Pearson ’26 34 SUA Receives $1 Million Planned Gift to Honor 1960 Alumna Ursula Update is published for the alumnae, 35 Alumna Profile: Erin Baker ’98 families, and friends of St. Ursula Academy. 36 The Nonprofit Track: Working for the Common Good Please direct all comments to: (419) 329-2253 | [email protected] 38 Class Notes St. Ursula Academy, 4025 Indian Rd., Toledo, OH 43606 40 In Memory of our Alumnae 41 In Memoriam ST. URSULA ACADEMY 42 Alumna Profile: Kai Perry ’98 3 A LETTER FROM MISSION STATEMENT President Founded in the Ursuline tradition Mary Conlisk Werner ’74, and rooted in the Catholic faith, St. Ursula Academy educates each young woman, transforming her through intellectual inquiry, Recently, I had an impromptu personal growth, spiritual conversation with a group of Junior formation, and compassionate Academy students. The girls were wide- service, empowering her to lead confidently in a global society. eyed and curious. “What is your job at SUA?,” they asked. “How do you get to be the President?” The questions flowed as the girls had my undivided attention. And then when I shared that I was a graduate VISION of St. Ursula Academy just about 50 years ago, after a chorus of “WHOA!,” the next St. Ursula Academy is the premier educational choice for question came. “Why did you come back young women and their parents, to work at SUA?” fostering a learning environment that develops young women of I paused and said most sincerely, wisdom, service, and faith so that each is empowered to embrace “Because of each of you.” the challenges of the world with leadership, courage, and I knew from my high school years at SUA, compassion. combined with my subsequent years of service as a Board Member and a parent Follow President Mary Werner of three SUA graduates, that the St. Ursula on Twitter @mwerner74pres. Academy experience transforms lives. The experience of developing leaders, faith, and the bonds of sisterhood, not to mention CORE VALUES our outstanding academic foundation, were in sync with my calling to be a part of Ursuline Spirituality something bigger, something bolder, and something that changes lives. Academic Excellence Service The other alumnae who work in these halls share a similar passion. Whether a teacher, Leadership principal, school counselor, alumnae engagement coordinator, or even our own Director Community of the Junior Academy, SUA gave each of us wings to fly. Those wings brought us back Openness to Change home, and we are honored to return to continue the mission of St. Ursula Academy—to Care of the Individual prepare young women for college, but most importantly, for a life of meaning. Development of the Whole Person Soli Deo Gloria! ALMA MATER Mary St. Ursula, St. Ursula, President our own loved Gold and Blue: Across the years of memories Our hearts go out to you. Friendships formed are cherished as years go by, Scenes of happy days; Today we sing thy praise anew, We’ll loyal be to the Gold and Blue And our own loved SUA. Give the ones you love wings St. Ursula, St. Ursula, our own loved Gold and Blue: to fly, roots to come back, Across the years of memories “ Our hearts go out to you. and reasons to stay. DALAI LAMA 4 ” A LETTER FROM Nichole Operacz Flores ’89, Principal We love the moment our Arrows return “home” to SUA. We find that so many Arrows return home for a purpose—whether it be to tell a story, give thanks, visit faculty, or to simply remember. No matter the reason, we cherish those visits, knowing there is no place like home. Leaving home is not easy and does not happen without vast preparation and luminous growth. As we prepare to graduate 123 Arrows from the Class of 2021, I can’t help thinking about the intentional dedication that goes into every Arrow. From the moment each one of them enters our quiver, we sharpen our Arrows in preparation for their future flights. We take each Arrow and sharpen her with knowledge, providing her an educational experience that awakens her mind. Some of these experiences include trying a new art course or challenging herself with an Honors or Advanced Placement course. Other experiences may include competing in academic competitions, such as our STEM program or Architecture Club. Other students enjoy traveling to a different country or participating in Mock Trial. We take each Arrow and sharpen her faith life with an awareness of the needs of others. Our Labre program is one example of the ways students respond to the needs of local people weekly with food, company, and prayer. Not only do students participate in service hours, but they also pray together during Mass, prayer services, and retreats. We take each Arrow and sharpen her confidence with an array of leadership opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. From Student Council to the moments students have with each other in a classroom, they are learning to use their voices and their hearts. By graduation, our Arrows are well prepared for us to pull them from the safety of our quiver, draw them back, and then let go. They have their eyes set on college and their hearts set on making a difference in the world. What they discover later is the labor of love that was put into each one of them while she was here at SUA. They recall their fond memories and realize the challenges and celebrations that led to their own personal growth. Our Arrows return with love, gratitude, and a plethora of actions that have made our world a better place for the last 166 years. As an alumna, Class of 1989, it has been a walk down memory lane serving as principal. My four years at SUA were filled with faith, friends, and academics. The vibrant school spirit that permeated SUA in 1989 is still very much alive and pulls at my heart every time I enter the building. I also am so grateful for the sacrifices of my parents and the vision that they had for me. Just as my parents drew me back to let me fly, this year marks a personal moment for me. My youngest daughter, Abigail, will be graduating with the Class of 2021. I, too, will be drawing my bow and sending her off into the world, knowing that she will forever call SUA “home.” Prayers to our Class of 2021 and all our families and friends, Nichole Principal 5 A LETTER FROM BOARD OF TRUSTEES Craig Mancinotti, Craig Mancinotti P ’09, ’12 Chair Board of Trustees Chair Lisa Strasser Krebs ’92 P ’25 Vice-Chair Jodi Miehls P ’16 In following the theme of this issue of Treasurer Ursula Update, that “some paths lead back home,” I am compelled to draw Kristen Connelly Polizzi ’90 P ’19, ’21 out some of the work to be done in Secretary St. Ursula Academy’s 2020 Strategic Mérida Allen ’97 Plan, Making a Difference.